My Family in My Life: food

Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Monday, October 7, 2013

Pumpkin bread with cinnamon streusel topping

I know this is the second recipe post here in a row (weird), and also the second post in a row that I demanded you make said recipe... but this pumpkin bread, you guys. You need it in your life.

We had a little fall cool snap here (finally!), and this was the perfect addition to a very full weekend. Hope you can find the time to make it! Since I'm too lazy to post the whole recipe, go on over here for the details. Happy MONDAY! :)

(check out this post from last year, too: "five things you should try this fall"!)

Lick

Day 16 of Blogtember: Review a book, place, or product.

I'm a little ashamed to be just now trying Lick, and it's almost October. I've heard rave reviews of this hopping little ice cream spot, so I've been dying to get the scoop. Pun intended.

Anyway, my mom and I checked it out, and I can honestly say this is the very best ice cream I've ever (eveerrr) had. Such curious flavors, and every one we tried was so incredibly delicious! My favorite was Lemon Lavender, but Cardamom Pear Cake and Hill Country Honey & Vanilla Bean received very high marks as well. I'll be back to try all the other flavors. All of them. Thanks for being innovative and awesome, Lick! ;)

Dominican Joe

I enjoy a good cup of coffee. I even specifically remember when I started enjoying it, too. Up until a certain point, I thought coffee was disgusting and I didn't know how my parents could endure the taste. But then one day, probably about 7 years ago now, I was in New York with my best friend, and we were staying with her aunt. We had to get up super early on a chilly fall morning, like before the sun early, because we were catching the train into the city. My friend's aunt made a pot of hazelnut coffee, and we all drank a cup before we headed out. I remember the aroma of it mingled with the excitement for the day ahead, and I remember falling in love with that flavor and that smell and maybe even the possibilities I've associated with a good cup of joe ever since. :)

I also enjoy a good coffee shop, and there are plenty to choose from here in Austin. A couple of my other favorites are Houndstooth and Vintage Heart. Today I'm sharing some photos from Dominican Joe. Such a great little place, and a company with conscience. Stop by, if you're ever in the neighborhood!

A dinner idea: easy crockpot chicken

Now that Matthew's home from school, I have been doing a lot more cooking - and consequently, a lot more good eating! I'm not going to lie, though. I don't love cooking as much as I used to. Probably because I'm working full time now, and when I finally shut down my computer and my brain for the day, I really don't want to think about food! Story of most women's lives, I'm sure. So a delicious and easy meal with very little prep time is always nice to discover, eh? One of our other favorites is my most delicious salmon in the world recipe. Big name, yes, but I think it lives up to it.

Anyway, there really isn't anything special about this crock pot chicken, except maybe that it's easy, melt-in-your-mouth yummy, lean, and did I mention easy? Serve it up with a pre-made salad and rolls you pop right in the oven, and you've got yourself a perfect dinner.

AND IT'S EASY.

Crockpot Chicken

Ingredients:

Assorted bone-in chicken pieces (I used two breasts, four thighs, and about six legs)

Season-all

Garlic salt

Directions:

Rinse chicken and lay out the pieces on a plate/cutting board/plastic wrap. Sprinkle all with a little season-all and garlic salt, or any of your favorite seasonings. Place them in the crockpot (it's OK to pile them up in there - I like to make extra so there's leftovers for the next day's lunch!). Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high about 4, or until chicken is super tender and juicy. Serve with salad and rolls or rice, or whatever you prefer. The salad pictured above is a delicious and super healthy kale salad mix from Costco.

Enjoy!

W.D. Deli, San Antonio

My best friend Megan lives in San Antonio, and the last time I visited her there, she suggested we try W.D. Deli for lunch. "San Antonio has cute places too, you know!" she said, and away we went. Many don't know this, but I actually lived in San Antonio for 12 years - from age ten all the way up through 22. But I don't feel like I really got to experience the city during my adult life. It tends to hold weird memories for me, so I stick to my hallowed Austin ground for the most part. But I am enjoying it now as I slowly discover a different side of S.A. from what I experienced in high school and college there. Three cheers for that!

Any readers out there live in San Antonio and have some recs for cool restaurants or fun things to do? Oh, and no need to mention Magnolia Pancake Haus - been obsessed with that place for years. Can't seem to crank out a post about it, since I'm too busy stuffing my face whenever I'm there.... ;)

Peché, Austin

I’ve been hearing good things about Peché in Austin for a while now, so when some friends and I were deciding on a spot to go for happy hour last week, I jumped at the opportunity to finally try it. Just as I suspected, it was super cool and really perfect for get togethers with friends or for a hip date night spot. I loved the gritty-glam decor and the food and drinks were delicious. Another A+, Austin food scene. I just can’t quit you.

*More around-Austin posts here.

The Steeping Room

The Steeping Room is a real favorite of mine here in Austin. There are what seems like hundreds of tea varieties to choose from, the presentation is beautiful, and the food is delicious. It's an obvious choice for dining if you're out shopping at the Domain or in need of a cute meeting spot up north, and I hear there's now a second location on Lamar, as well.

My friend and I went for lunch the other day, and I ordered English Caramel tea (umm, delicious), and she got a flowering tea. It was the neatest thing - when your tea pot arrives, the flower is still closed, but you know the tea is done steeping when it opens up... so pretty!

Here's a few photos from our lunch. Happy Hump Day. :)